Last Post

Only this time it was a close run affair and PJF were unlucky not to get at least a draw.

The fact that PJF played well and tested their opponents, sitting in 3rd place in the League, is testament to their latent ability and progress made during the season.

Eastleigh were fast out of the blocks as they quickly set about PJF from the start and placed a cross field kick which was collected by their sprightly winger who crossed for their opening try. Barely 5 minutes had passed and PJF were already chasing the game. This they did with some well placed touchline kicks that took them up into Eastleigh's half. From some good loose play PJF attacked the visitor's line and Alex Wilson crossed from close quarters to even the score. Dan Martin converted and PJF's tails were up. From the kick off PJF punched back up the park as their front five slowly took charge in the tight, any ball Eastleigh won was under pressure and going backwards - which seemed to unruffle them quite a bit. Tom Leather soared in a lineout and from his take PJF set a rolling maul in motion a la Old Skool, up the jumper and over some 20 yards or so. Releasing the ball the PJF backs went one way then another and it was left to Tom Campbell to bounce his way through the covering defence and score PJF's second try, this was converted again by Dan Martin.

Despite this superior passage of play PJF were soon on the defensive as Eastleigh started to get their hands on the ball and work their way back up the park. several transgressions by PJF at the breakdown didn't help the situation and from the halfway line the Eastleigh centre ran a good line through PJF's cover, his break stretched PJF and he fed his supporting teammate who ran in from 15 yards out. The conversion took the score to 14-12. Try scorer Wilson was sin binned before the end of the first half for an offence at the ruck. Eastleigh took advantage and from a scrum their No 8 broke off the back and fed his supporting scrum half, a quick break took them down the blind side and the winger scored his second try. Dan Martin rounded off the half by slotting a penalty - having missed 2 previously. In fact had those gone over and had PJF elected to take the points rather field position, then they could have quite comfortably been in the lead come the second half.

Early in the second half both sides exchanged penalties and PJF suffered another set back as yet again they were caught out by the cross field kick, this time the other Eastleigh winger crossed to score their 4 and bonus point try. The visitor's fly half made the conversion and soon after another penalty saw them in the lead by 30-20. PJF didn't give up and worked hard to get into the Eastleigh 22, they were here for some 10 minutes or so egged on by the home support. Ruck followed ruck, scrum followed scrum, first one way then another, then a maul it was relentless and well defended by Eastleigh. However, their resolve was broken by another close range try from Man of the Match flanker Callum Law who thundered over - Dan Martin's conversion put PJF within 3 points of their opponents and took his match tally to 12.

Time ran out and by the cheer from the Eastleigh camp it was plain to see that they felt lucky to have won. Still a bonus point for PJF and with other results going in their favour it appears as if relegation has been avoided.